The dog that overcomes the mistreatment thanks to a baby
If someone who does not know anything about Instagram @ Instagram account, maybe only see one of those galleries of dogs and cats in a family environment that they like so much on the Internet.
However, the more than 116,000 followers of its owner, Elizabeth Spence, are not only due to their photographs of pets and family are of very good quality (they are).
Your account is popular because in it there is a moving story that has been explained in the lines that accompany the images. Its protagonists are the baby Archie and his dog, Nora .
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Nora, the dog marked by trauma
Some of the most frequent psychological disorders can go on and on at times simply with the company, support and affection of others. This is exactly what happened with the bitch Nora.
This adorable animal came to Elizabeth Spence's family through adoption, as she had previously had other owners. The relationship between Nora and her former owners was marked by violence and mistreatment , which deeply traumatized her and made her afraid of practically everything: objects pushed by the wind, other dogs, unknown places and, of course, human beings.
Naturally, Elizabeth could not use the word to try to calm her dog. Unlike what would have happened if Nora were human, there was no possibility of resorting to a therapist to modify the ideas from which she interpreted the traumatic events that occurred, or to improve her self-esteem by questioning her beliefs. There was no abstract thought to fix, only pure emotion, which could not be reached by talking.
Fortunately, another member of the family could treat Nora as equal, and establish an emotional connection with her through the simplest of the world : physical contact It was Archie, who at that time had not yet completed his first year of life.
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The bond between baby Archie and Nora
Archie, in his natural curiosity, soon became interested in Nora. At the beginning it was difficult to gather them in the same place, but the kind and calm character of the baby ended by convincing Nora that there was no significant danger at her side .
The simplicity of Archie's contact, his movements and the tranquility he expressed began to act as a balm. In a short time, Archie went from being a threat to becoming an oasis of peace, one of the few available when everything scares you. The emotional bond that was created between them became an anchor that Nora could start using to not lose touch with the moments of well-being and tranquility.
Currently, Nora has not yet been able to forget all the suffering that she had to live, and does not act as a perfectly healthy dog would. The fear is still there, stalking, and appears in a disruptive way taking many of the moments that Nora would not want to part with. But Archie was and still is someone with whom Nora can be herself: in the affection that expresses the little one is recognized as a being that is loved and deserves to be .
The nature of the love between dogs and humans
This case is not the only one in which it is seen how the affection between dogs and humans can profoundly affect the emotional states of both species. For example, in an investigation it was shown that something as simple as look a dog in the eyes for several seconds in a row It is able to make the oxytocin levels of this rise, which is very interesting, because this substance secreted by the body is considered the hormone of love and emotional bonds.
In general, in psychology it is established that the strongest and most fundamental attachment links are not based on words or on the way in which we verbally explain what we feel. Something as simple as sleeping supported one on the other is worth more than a thousand praises and compliments and, although it seems irrational, can get to improve much more our state of mind if it is done expressing honest emotions of affection.
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Physical contact is the first step of affection
If something can teach us the story of Nora and Archie is that we must not forget the simplest resources to express affection , and use them without excuses. It is a habit that we should claim more, not only because it is nice, but because it is a way to make attachment really exist.
However much we praise the rationality and intellectual nature of our species, what really matters is beyond words. It is a language that we all understand, whether we are human or not; and that's for something.
